Beachgoers could be heard screaming due to freak and unexpected waves, which led to the beachfront’s closure on Sunday.
North Beach in Durban has been closed to bathers as massive wave swells have resulted in the area being deemed unsafe for swimming.
“Waves are crashing over onto the Promenade. The beach has been closed to bathers and lifeguards on the promenade are monitoring the people,” IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson Paul Herbst said on Sunday afternoon.
He described the waves as “quite big” and said a cyclone has apparently affected the waves.
The Berea Mail has reported that the cyclone weather system off Madagascar has caused storm surf along Durban’s North Beach, forcing the authorities to close the beach while large waves batter the beachfront.
However, Stacy Colborne of the SA Weather Service told News24 the Madagascar cyclone which hit on Tuesday was too far away to have affected Durban.
Wet weather conditions are expected to continue through Monday.
Emergency services urged the public to be careful when in the vicinity of the beachfront, as swells of up to 10 feet have breached beach barriers.
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